Apparatus for disintegration of fibrous material



NOV. 22, 1966 LESNIAK 2,961,041

APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATION OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 6, 1956 3Sheets-Sheet 2 STARTING SWITCH CHIP LOADING VALVE OPENS METERING SCREWSTOPS AFTER PRESET NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS. GUN FEED SCREW REVOLVESADDITIONAL PRESET NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS TO CLEAR IT OF CHIPS.

AS IT STOPS IT DE-ENERGIZES A SOLENOID SOLENOID OPENS CIRCUIT TO CAUSECHIP LOADING VALVE TO CLOSE LOADING VALVE STEM ACTUATES LIMIT SWITCHCAUSING AIR VALVE TO OPEN AND AIR IS BLOWN THROUGH VALVE STEM AGAINSTVALVE SEAT LOADING VALVE STEM ACTUATES SECOND LIMIT SWITCH AS VALVECLOSES WHICH ACTUATES STEAM INLET VALVE OPENING MECHANISM STEAM ISADMITTED TO GUN SLOWLY TO PREHEAT PRESSURE (400-800 PSI) THEN RAPIDLY TOSHOOTING PRESSURE LSOOJOOO PSI). GUN IS THEN DISCHARGED AND CYCLEREPEATED E 2 INVENTOR FRANK G. LESNIAK ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1966 F. G.LESNIAK APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATION OF FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 6,1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3: 955w Egon km 10.2% NQDWWWQQ INVENTOR FRANK c.LESNIAK Y Mu ATTORNEY United tates Patent APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATIONOF FIBROUS MATERIAL Frank G. Lesnialt, Laurel, Miss, assignor toMasonite Corporation, Laurel, Miss., a corporation of Delaware FiledAug. 6, 1956, Ser. No. 602,347

6 Claims. (Cl. 162-247) The present invention relates to an apparatusfor the explosive disintegration of fibrous material such as, forexample, wood chips and similar fibrous lignocellulose materials. Moreparticularly, the invention comprises an automatic apparatus forcarrying out the disintegration of fibrous material.

Broadly speaking, the apparatus of the invention is an improvement onthe apparatus disclosed and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 1,824,221 issuedSeptember 22. 1931, to W. H. Mason. The physical configuration of thepresent novel apparatus is similar to the patented apparatus insofar asthe pressure chamber itself is concerned. The same is true of thedis2harge port and the valve means for controlling the discharge ofhydrolyzed material from the apparatus. The improvements of the presentinvention are concerned with rendering automat c the complete process ofdisintegration of fibrous material.

The invention will be described in detail with particular reference tothe drawings in which Fig. l is a vertical sectional view, partly brokenaway, showing the pressure chamber and the raw material feed means ofthe novel apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a chart setting forth the sequential steps in the operation ofthe novel apparatus, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic presentation of the circuit hook-up governingthe novel appa atus.

In the drawings, the pressure chamber is Within a vertical cylinder orgun of metal suitable for resisting internal pressure of the order ofmagnitude of about 1200 p.s.i. The upper end of the gun 10 is providedwith an annular rib 12 suitable for the insertion of compressble packingmaterial. Positioned on the upper end of the gun 10 is a second cylinder14, the two cylinders firmly united by the vertical threaded studs 16having nuts 16. The cylinder 14 is also constructed of metal resistantto high internal pressure. The upper end of cylinder 14 is sealed by thecap plate 13.

There is a feed port or opening 20 in the wall of the cylinder 14through which raw material such as, for example, wood chips may be fedinto the cylinder and thence into the gun 10. The port 20 may be closed,as shown in Fig. l, by the valve 22 mounted on the valve stem 24 whichis, in turn, connected to the hydraulic cylinder 26 by the rod 28 byconventional coupling means 30. The valve stem 24 is provided with apassage 32 which continues through the valve 22 as the divergent jets34. in turn, the passage 32 is connected by a pres sure resistantflexible hose 36 to a conventional means for providing a flow ofcompressible fluid such as air or other gaseous medium. The valve stem24 passes through the opening 38 in the wall of cylinder 14 and througha packing gland 40 of usual construction.

Wood chips, or other suitable raw material, are fed from a storage bin(not shown) by the metering screw 42 into the feed screw 44. The chipsfall through the tube 46 into a second feed screw 48 which advances themthrough the opening 29 into cylinder 14 and gun 10. The feed screw 48 ismounted on the movable carriage "ice 50 so that it may be retracted forready access to the cylinder 14. The means of mounting and driving thefeed screw 48 are of conventional design and constitute no part of theinvention.

The gun 10 is provided with a high pressure steam opening 52, a similarsteam opening 53, and a discharge port 54. The port 54 is opened andclosed by a rapid action valve 55 which permits substantiallyinstantaneous discharge of the material charged to the pressure chamher.

In employing the novel apparatus, as is shown diagrammatically in Fig.2, the operator throws a starting switch which actuates the hydrauliccylinder 26 to retract the valve 22, thus opening the feed port 2%. Asthe chip loading valve 22 arrives at open position, the rod 28 trips thelimit switch 29 which actuates the raw m"terial feeding means. Woodchips, for example, are fed from a. storage bin by the metering screw 42into the feed screw 44, through the tube 46, into the feed screw 48, andthence into the pressure chamber of the gun 10.

he metering screw 42 makes a preset number of revolutions to deliver thedesired volume of raw material to the gun. The feed screw 43 operatessomewhat longer and is controlled by a conventional time delay switch(not shown) to insure that all of the raw material has been cleared intothe gun. Upon stopping, the feed screw 48 de-energizes a solenoid 49 andthereby actuates the hydraulic cylinder 26 to close the feed port 20. Asthe feed port valve 22 arrives at its closed position, the rod 28 t ipsthe limit switch 31 which actuates the valve mechanism 51 governing theflow of steam through the steam inlet 53 into the gun 10. The orifice ofthe steam inlet 53 is somewhat constricted so that the steam is admittedrather slowly into the gun. As the steam pressure rises it is indicatedon the gauge 66. When the pressure has attained the desired degree as,for example 400-800 p.s.i., the pressure switch 56 actuates the valvemechanism 63 thus allowing high pressure steam to flow through the steamopening 52 into the gun. The steam pressure in the gun chamber now risesrapidly to the desired maximum of about 1000-1200 p.s.i. At this point,the pressure switch 57 closes off both of the valves 51 and 63 and actutes the opening mechanism of the discharge port valve 55. The dischargeport 54 is thereby opened and the steam saturated wood chips areinstantaneously and explosively discharged from the pressure chamber. Asthe pressure in the gun 10 approaches zero, the pressure switch 58actuates the mechanism for closing the discharge port valve 55, As thevalve 55 arrives at its closed position, it trips a limit switch (notshown) which reverses the cylinder 26 to withdraw the feed port valve 22and thereby open the feed port 20. The entire cycle is now repeated.

During the gun loading operation, as the feed port valve 22 is travelinginto closed position, the rod 28 may be equipped so as to trip anadditional limit switch (not shown) to allow a flow of air or other gasthrough the hose 36, the valve stem passage 32, and through the valvejets 34. The jet of air impinges upon the valve seat of the feed port 20and removes any occluded raw material. This operational feature is notalways necessary and when the raw material is substantially dry and dustfree, the air flow may be dispensed with.

It has been stated above that the stopping of the feed screw 48de-energizes the solenoid 4% thereby actuating the hydraulic cylinder26. In the drawing this mechanism is shown as a single action solenoidwhich operates a three-way valve 64. Suitable fluid is admitted to thecylinder and exhausted therefrom by the hydraulic fluid lines 65 and 66from a compressing means of conventional design (not shown). In theillustration, this solenoid valve is equipped, for safety reasons, witha spring return. It will be apparent that a double acting solenoid maybe employed where desired.

In the description, the feeding of raw material into the pressurechamber is controlled by the metering screw 42; Obviously, othermeasuring means may be employed. .For example, an electronic probe maybe inserted into the pressure chamber for indicating that the chamberhas received its desired volume of raw material. Other mechanicalmeasuring devices may also be employed, it being important only thatuniform charges be obtained.

The foregoing description has also been directed to the use of limitswitches, solenoids, and pressure switches to control the operationalsequence. The switches are shown schematically in Fig. 1 inasmuch asother conventional means may be employed equally as well. For example,the complete cycle may be carried out on a timed basis governed by asystem of relays. In such an electrical control system, and withparticular reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the operator first turnson the main switch which supplies power to the apparatus. The operatorthen turns on the two selector switches. The automatic load selectorswitch energizes the counter which in turn energizes the control relayA. The control relay A energizes a pilot valve which in turn activatesthe hydraulic cylinder 26, shown in Fig. l, which retracts the valve 22.The rod 28 trips the limit switch 29 and this completes the circuit to amagnetic starter and puts into operation the gun metering screw 42 andthe feed screws 44 and 48. After the metering screw has made therequired predetermined number of revolutions the counter stops themetering screw 42 and deenergizes a time delay relay. As soon as thetime delay has taken efiEect, control relay A opens, stops the gun feedscrews 44 and 48 and causes the gun loading valve 22 to close. As therod 28 moves the valve 22 toward a closed position, it trips the limitswitch 31 which c"uses the control relay B to be energized and the relayB, in turn, opens the preheat steam pilot valve 51 thus allowing steamto flow into the chamber through inlet 53. When the predetermined steampressure has been reached, pressure switch 56 closes and energizes thehigh pressure steam pilot valve 63. High pressure steam is admittedinto'the chamber 10 through the inlet 52. When the predetermined highpressure is reached, pressure switch 57 closes and energizes a doubleacting relay which, in turn, closes the valve 63 and opens the gundischarge valve 55. The material in the gun is explosively discharged.When the pressure in the gun has dropped below, for example, 50 p.s.i.,pressure switch 58 de-energizes the control relay B and completes thecircuit to the counter and thus starts another complete cycle of theapparatus.

In operating the automatic apparatus on a commercial schedule, it willbe apparent that provision must be made for efiecting repairs and thelike operations. Accordingly the manually operated port 61 is providedin the cap plate 18. Similarly, the feed screw 48 and its operatingmechanism is mounted on the carriage 50, and maybe withdrawn for accessto the interior of the apparatus the tube 46 may be disjoined by meansof removing the collar 62.

As many apparently widely difierent embodiments of the invention may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited to specificembodiments thereof except as defined in the appended'claims.

I claim:

I, An apparatus for hydrolyzing and explosively disintegratinglignocellulose particles which comprises in combination a pressurechamber having a steam inlet, a discharge port equipped with rapidopening andclosing means, a feed port, and a valve adapted to open andseal said feed port; said valve mounted on a valve stem connected to ahydraulic cylinder; said valve stem and said valve containing a passagetherethrough adapted to admit a gaseous medium in the open position ofsaid feed port; screw-type metering and feeding means adapted to chargeto said pressure chamber a predetermined quantity of lignocelluloseparticles; and means for sequentially energizing said valve, saidmetering and feeding means, said steam inlet, and said discharge port.

2. An apparatus adapted for carrying out a lignocellulose hydrolysis anddisintegration process which comprises a pressure chamber adapted toreceive a charge of raw material, said pressure chamber equipped with afeed port in its upper area, a discharge port in its lower saiddischarge port, and means for sequentially energiz- 7 through the feedport 20. To facilitate this operation,

ing said feed port valve, said metering and feeding means, admission ofsteam into said pressure chamber, and said discharge port valve wherebyraw material is charged to said pressure chamber, hydrolysis effectedunder steam pressure, and said hydrolyzed raw material rapidlydischarged from said pressure chamber.

3. Apparatus for treatment of lignocellulose particlescomprising incombination a pressure chamber having a steam inlet, a feed port and adischarge port, a valve adapted to seal said feed port, said valvemounted on and actuated by a valve stem connected to a hydrauliccylinder, a passage through said valve stem and through said valve faceadapted to permit passage therethrough of a gaseous medium, screw-typemetering and feeding means associated with said feed port adapted tocharge to said pressure chamber a predetermined quantity oflignocellulose particles, and means for opening said feed port valve,means for metering and charging said lignocellulose particles to saidchamber, means for closing said valve and said feed port, means foradmitting steam into said chamber, and means for subsequently openingsaid discharge port.

4. An apparatus for intermittent hydrolysis and explosive disintegrationof lignocellulose particles which comprises in combination a pressurechamber having a steam inlet, a feed port, a valve adapted to open andclose said feed port, and a discharge port equipped with rapid-actingopening and closing means; said feed port having associated therewithscrew-type raw material metering and feeding means; said feed port valvemounted on' a valve stem which extends through the pressure chamber walland connects with means adapted to move said valve into closed and openposition; means for actuatingsaid feed port valve to its open position;means for actuating said metering and feeding means; means to actuatesaid feed port valve to its closed position; means for opening saidsteam inlet; means for closingsaid steam inlet; means for closing saiddischarge port and actuating said feed port valve to its open position.

5. An apparatus for intermittent hydrolysis and explosive disintegrationof lignocellulose particles which comprises in combination a pressurechamber having a steam inlet, a feed port, and a discharge port; saidfeed port fitted with a feed port valve mounted on a valve stem whichextends laterally therefrom through the pressure chamber wall to ahydraulic cylinder adapted to actuate said valve; said discharge porthaving a rapidacting valve adapted to open and close said port;screwtype raw material metering and feeding means associated with saidfeed port; and an electrical control system adapted tosequentiallyactuate means to load said pres sure chamber with raw material, admitsteam into said chamber, and thereafterdischarge said material from thepressure chamber and thereby explosively disintegrate feeding means tocharge a predetermined quantity of raw material to said pressurechamber, means for actuating said hydraulic cylinder to close said feedport valve, means for opening said steam inlet, means for closing saidsteam inlet, means for actuating said discharge port valve to its openposition, means for actuating said dischange port valve to its closedposition, and means to reopen said feed port valve.

6. An apparatus for the intermittent hydrolysis and explosivedisintegration of lignocellulose particles which comprises incombination a pressure chamber having steam inlets, a feed port, and adischarge port; said feed port fitted with a feed pont valve mounted ona valve stem which extends laterally therefrom through the pressurechamber Wall to a hydraulic cylinder adapted to actuate said valve; saiddischarge port having a rapidacting valve adapted to open and close saidpont; a raw material metering screw and feed screws associated with saidfeed port; and an electrical control system adapted to sequentiallyactuate means to load said pressure cham- 6, oer with raw material,admit steam into said chamber, and thereafter discharge said materialfrom the pressure chamber and thereby explosively disintegrate saidmaterial.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,578,609 Mason Mar. 30, 1926 1,824,221 Mason i Sept. 22, 1931 1,938,802Braun et a1. Dec. 12, 1933 1,991,244 De La Roza Feb. 12, 1935 2,063,367De La Roza Dec. 8, 1936 2,321,015 Davis June 8, 1943 2,539,990 Chapmanet a1. Jan. 30, 1951 2,680,683 Obenshain June 8, 1954 2,711,369 BirdseyeJune 21, 1955 2,731,904 Van Arsdell et a1 Ian. 24, 1956 2,734,824 DeLuca Feb. 14, 1956 2,809,576 Van Edeskuty Oct. 15, 1957

